On Saturday I took an exciting trip around Derwentside visiting independent operators. My first bus of the day was East Lancs bodied Scania GNE 6122. This was working the 8.55 X30 from Gateshead to Stanley. This was a good, smooth ride with no problems. I just sat back and enjoyed the views until we arrived at Stanley Church.

My first operating centre of the day was Go North East Limited Stanley depot. I was able to get some good photos here although the position of the Sun caused an issue with shadows in some shots. There were plenty of vehicles in the depot including a number of 1998 Volvo Olympians and 2015 Wrightbus Streetlites. Next I walked over to New College Durham Academies Trust at the North Durham Academy. They operate a single Ford Transit which I could not photograph as the site was secured.

I then followed the path of the old mineral railway down to Mendip Terrace where I visited the Craghead Development Trust Limited. This charity operates a single Mercedes minibus under the fleetname Stanley Community Bus on a Section 19 Permit. Unfortunately the premises were locked up with no vehicles present. I therefore continued onto Lenin Street and visited the premises of Barrett (Connors Minibuses) and was able to get some photos of the 3 Ford Transits present. Next I visited Bowers (Daves Minibuses), which was a short walk away. I again was able get OK photos of the mixed vehicles present. A quick walk brought me to the premises of Batey (Beeline Minibuses) who had a single Fort Transit present.

I had intended to get the 78 to South Moor; however I had 20 minutes wait so I just walked over since it was a nice morning. My initial destination was Charlotte Street, where I visited the premises of former PSV operator Palmer (Mollys Taxis). Mr Palmer still operates minibuses but as taxis which are predominantly wheelchair enabled for contract work. There were 3 Transits present. Around the corner was Mundell Street garage. This is the official operating centre for Connors Minibuses and Beeline Minibuses. However this was locked up at the time of my visit.

G & P Johnson Limited (Nightingale) was my next stop off point. The friendly staff were happy to let me visit the premises. There were over 30 vehicles present including a number of deckers which have been acquired for school contract work. I was able to get some really good photos and spent a good 20 minutes looking around. Mr Johnson is looking for photos of his buses on the road. If any members have any photos available, please could they get in touch with him. I note Nightingale have a presence on the forum so that could be a good contact point.

Wilson at Derwent Rise was my final visit at South Moor. This operator had a single Transit present. However I note from the most recent Notices and Proceedings, his Operators Licence request has just been refused. My next intended step was to take the bus to the top of the bank and walk over to Stanley Travel. I caught the late running 10.43 130 service operated by Optare Solo 651. The driver however deviated from the route given on the most recent Durham County Council Public Transport Map (June 2015) and went to Stanley bus station via the schools at South Moor. This was annoying and passengers wanted to alight but the driver would not let them do so until the bus station was reached. The bus was also crowded being standing room only.

Due to my enforced change of itinerary, I decided to take the 11.00 78 Coast and Country service over to Annfield Plain. This was operated by Streetlite 5399 and was a nice smooth journey. There were however delays at the junction with the South Moor road which might explain the change of route on the 130. At Annfield Plain I walked down to the Durham County Council depot on the site of the former Morrison Busty colliery. The council operates a large fleet of minibuses on a PSV basis. I fully expected to be turned away by security citing reasons of health and safety and insurance etc. However the guard had no objection to me photographing the vehicles present. There were a number of interesting tri-axel Bluebird bodied Volkswagen Transporters and a single Renault Master in the yard.

After some searching I found the premises of 1st Aid Commercials Limited on the Morrison Industrial Estate. This relatively new operator and has a small fleet of Transits. Their garage is around the corner from Olivers Builders Merchants. The lady present at their garage said I was the first enthusiast to visit the yard. I was able to get some photos of the Transits. Mollys Taxis also share the yard and they had another Transit present. However this was being re-sprayed and had no registration details. I also passed the former Classic Coaches depot which was looking rather forlorn.

Gillinghams Coaches was my next stop after walking through the centre of Annfield Plain. They had 10 vehicles present including withdrawn Volvo B10M GIL1792. This plate has since been transferred to Mercedes 0814D Y333GSM. I therefore had the new experience of seeing two very different vehicles with the same registration in the same place. Mrs Gillingham was happy for me to take photos of her family’s fleet. YN59BKO is a new addition being a Mercedes minibus not painted in the usual company livery. I then walked up to North Road Garage, the operating centre of Walker (Greencroft Coaches & Taxis) but there were no vehicles present.

I caught the 12.08 78 over to Consett outside Greencroft School. This was operated by GNE 5401 and again was a good smooth journey. I am beginning to think Streetlites could be my favourite type of contemporary bus. The bus was busy but we still arrived on time. At Consett I alighted outside Villa Real School. This council operated specialist school had two vehicles present, however I could not get any photos as the site was locked up. So I went past the new leisure centre and down to Blackhill. I visited Hope Street garage, the operating centre of Wilson (A W Travel). Unfortunately no vehicles were present despite the garage being open.

St Mary’s church on Derwent Street was my next stop off. The church operates a single non-psv Fiat Ducato for the benefit of local disabled people. The official name of the charity operating the minibus is The Diocese Of Hexham And Newcastle Catholic Handicapped Fellowship (Consett Group), quite a mouthful! Talking of mouthfuls I was now feeling a bit peckish so I sat in the sunny and quiet churchyard and had a quick snack of an apple and crisps. The church lies next to the premises of Burns (Kaydar Services). This PSV operator runs a fleet of 6 minibuses (mainly Ivecos) in connection with it’s business as a provider of daycare services to vulnerable adults. I was unable to enter the premises, but could get a good view from the churchyard of their fleet.

The weather being good, I decided to explore the site the former steelworks and took a walk along the former railway which forms part of the Derwent Walk. I headed across the former steelworks site with stunning views of the Derwent Valley. After about 15 pleasant minutes walk I arrived at the Emmaus Youth Village. This is owned by a Christian charity, the Youth Ministry Trust. The charity held a Section 19 Permit, however the staff confirmed to me that they no longer own any vehicles. After this slight disappointment I walked into Consett town centre. On the way I passed Derwentside College. The college used to operate a small minibus fleet but no vehicles are currently owned following the transfer of the college to a single site.

At Consett I did a bit spotting in and around the bus station. I got plenty of photos of Venture branded solos and Red Kite branded Streetlites. It being a Saturday, no Weardale Motor Services vehicles were running and GNE was the sole operator using the bus station. I caught Solo 647 on 14.15 V1 service to Delves Lane. This was my quietest bus of the day there being only 3 passengers using the service. All 3 of us alighted at the same stop. I then passed the residence of Wilson (A W Travel), but no vehicles were present at this location either. I headed over wasteland to the industrial estate. My first port of call was the Weardale Motor Services Limited depot. However this was completely empty and looked as though it is no longer in use. This was a disappointment as I was hoping to get some photos of their deckers which are used on school contracts. Undeterred, I crossed the road and visited Croft Business Services (UK) Limited (Croft Taxis). There were 3 minibuses present and I was able to get good photos. The staff present were fine about my visit.

Walking back upto Delves Lane, I caught the 14.52 15A service to Lanchester. This was operated by Volvo B7 6014. I was able to get the front seat above the driver, always a bonus. I alighted near St Bede's Catholic Academy (Lanchester) and was able to photograph their single Ford Transit. Transits seem to be very popular on Derwentside at the moment! After a relaxing lunch on the village green, I decided to head to Burnhope. There was nearly 40 minutes to wait for the next bus there so I walked up the hill and through corn fields and woods. I breathlessly arrived at Burnhope and admired the view of the valley below me. I then took a short stroll to The Haven. This daycentre and surgery is operated by a charitable company, North West Durham Rural Community Care Limited. They have a single wheelchair enabled Iveco minibus running on a non-psv basis using a Section 19 Permit.

Burnhope was nice in sunshine but I noted that the building housing the library had been demolished and the village pub is now a private dwelling. I wondered how the locals felt about this loss of services. I set off along the road to New Warlands Farm. This farm has been purchased by a major local mental health charity, the North East Autism Society. The estate retains a working farm of some 80 or so acres but has also been developed as field study and residential centre. It is one of a number of facilities owned by the charity. The charity holds a number of Section 19 Permits for minibus operation. There were only a small number of midibuses present at the time of my visit however. A public footpath runs through the estate and I followed this to Charlaw.

I remembered there was a nice pub at Charlaw with a good view of valley. So I decided to stop off for a quiet pint before catching my next bus. Unfortunately the pub had closed and is now a private house. This was distressing and I was thirsty! I therefore caught GNE 3822 operating the 16.53 43 service. This vehicle is about 17 years old and was clearly showing its age. It shook and rattled all the way to Craghead and over to South Moor. When it stopped I was nearly thrown down the stairs. I was glad to be off this bus, despite some of the journey’s scenery being pleasant.

Alighting at South Moor with a sense of deja-vu, I headed along the old railway line to Stanley Travel (North East) Limited. Their yard was quite full with many deckers parked up at the rear. I was able to get some good photos, including a decker on lifting gear. There also a number of minibuses and midibuses present. Next I visited the premises of Duncan at Pea Road. This new PSV operator has a single Transit (what is it with Transits in this part of the world!) and specialises in airport work. My final operator of the day was Dalton (KD Taxis) based at Spen Street near Stanley bus station. Guess what vehicles this operator had? That’s right, Transits, one of them is a recently acquired 16 seater and looks very smart in a silver and grey livery. I was able to get some OK photos of this vehicle.

It was now nearly 17.30 so I hurried across to the bus station and caught my last bus of the day back to Gateshead, this was Scania 6129 operating the 17.29 X30. The last 3 passengers were queuing to get on when I made it to the stand after a dash across the bus station apron. This journey was pleasant and uneventful and we arrived back at Gateshead on time. Later, I told my partner all about my day but she just looked at me and wondered how anyone could get so excited about tri-axel minibuses! Guess I will never make an enthusiast out of her! It was a good day despite a couple of disappointments. I would do this trip again but would try and include Hunters of Tantobie if possible.

Hope you enjoyed the review.

Charles